Massive model visualization in PDM systems

Abstract

Massive model visualization in product data management (PDM) systems. A method includes storing a massive model database for a product data structure in a PDM server system, including storing a spatial bounding box hierarchy that acts as a spatial index for spatial bounding boxes of a plurality of unconfigured components of the product data structure and storing a cell table that associates cells of the spatial bounding box hierarchy to corresponding component identifiers of the product data structure. The method includes responding to component identifier requests from a client system by sending requested component identifiers from the product data structure to the client system. The component identifier requests correspond to visible components of an assembly represented by the product data structure. The method includes transmitting geometric data to the client system, the geometric data corresponding to components of the product data structure associated with the requested component identifiers.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for massive-model visualization, comprising:
 storing a massive model database for a product data structure in a product data management (PDM) server system, including storing a spatial bounding box hierarchy that acts as a spatial index for spatial bounding boxes of a plurality of unconfigured components of the product data structure and storing a cell table that associates cells of the spatial bounding box hierarchy to corresponding component identifiers of the product data structure; 
 responding to component identifier requests from a client system by sending requested component identifiers from the product data structure to the client system, wherein the component identifier requests correspond to visible components of an assembly represented by the product data structure; and 
 transmitting the bounding box hierarchy and geometric data to the client system, the geometric data corresponding to components of the product data structure associated with the requested component identifiers, wherein the client system determines, based on the spatial bounding box hierarchy, the components of the assembly represented by the product data structure that are visible, and wherein the client system can use the transmitted geometry to display the components of an assembly represented by the product data structure that are visible from the given viewpoint, including at least one of the plurality of unconfigured components. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the client system determines the components of the assembly represented by the product data structure and the spatial bounding box hierarchy. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the PDM server system dynamically configures the unconfigured components, and transmits the geometric data according to the dynamic configuration. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the PDM server system receives a search cursor that contains a plurality of root nodes of visible sub-assemblies represented by the product data structure, and wherein requested component identifiers sent to the client system correspond to components of an assembly represented by the product data structure that are visible and that correspond to the search cursor. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the PDM server system identifies components of sub-assemblies that correspond to the search cursor by determining component occurrences that are in a respective cell of the cell table. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving at least one slice definition that defines a display attribute for a subset of the components in the product data structure. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , further comprising evaluating each of the components of an assembly represented by the product data structure, that are visible from a given viewpoint, against the slice definition. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the client system displays the components of the assembly represented by the product data structure that are visible from the given viewpoint according to the evaluated slice definition. 
     
     
       9. A product data management (PDM) server system comprising:
 at least one processor; and 
 an accessible memory, the PDM server system configured to: 
 store a massive model database for product data structure in a product data management (PDM) server system, including storing a spatial bounding box hierarchy that acts as a spatial index for spatial bounding boxes of a plurality of unconfigured components of the product data structure and storing a cell table that associates cells of the spatial bounding box hierarchy to corresponding component identifiers of the product data structure; 
 respond to component identifier requests from a client system by sending requested component identifiers from the product data structure to the client system, wherein the component identifier requests correspond to visible components of an assembly represented by the product data structure; and 
 transmit the bounding box hierarchy and geometric data to the client system, the geometric data corresponding to components of the product data structure associated with the requested component identifiers, wherein the client system determines, based on the spatial bounding box hierarchy, the components of the assembly represented by the product data structure that are visible, and wherein the client system can use the transmitted geometry to display the components of an assembly represented by the product data structure that are visible from the given viewpoint, including at least one of the plurality of unconfigured components. 
 
     
     
       10. The PDM server system of  claim 9 , wherein the client system determines the components of the assembly represented by the product data structure and the spatial bounding box hierarchy. 
     
     
       11. The PDM server system of  claim 9 , wherein the PDM server system dynamically configures the unconfigured components, and transmits the geometric data according to the dynamic configuration. 
     
     
       12. The PDM server system of  claim 9 , wherein the PDM server system receives a search cursor that contains a plurality of root nodes of visible sub-assemblies represented by the product data structure, and wherein requested component identifiers sent to the client system correspond to components of an assembly represented by the product data structure that are visible and that correspond to the search cursor. 
     
     
       13. The PDM server system of  claim 9 , wherein the PDM server system identifies components of sub-assemblies that correspond to the search cursor by determining component occurrences that are in a respective cell of the cell table. 
     
     
       14. The PDM server system of  claim 9 , wherein the PDM server system receives at least one slice definition that defines a display attribute for a subset of the components in the product data structure. 
     
     
       15. The PDM server system of  claim 14 , wherein the PDM server system evaluates each of the components of an assembly represented by the product data structure, that are visible from a given viewpoint, against the Slice definition. 
     
     
       16. The PDM server system of  claim 15 , wherein the PDM server system displays the components of the assembly represented by the product data structure that are visible from the given viewpoint according to the evaluated slice definition. 
     
     
       17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause a product data management (PDM) server system to:
 store a massive model database for a product data structure in a product data management (PDM) server system, including storing a spatial bounding box hierarchy that acts as a spatial index for spatial bounding boxes of a plurality of unconfigured components of the product data structure and storing a cell table that associates cells of the spatial bounding box hierarchy to corresponding component identifiers of the product data structure; 
 respond to component identifier requests from a client system by sending requested component identifiers from the product data structure to the client system, wherein the component identifier requests correspond to visible components of an assembly represented by the product data structure; and 
 transmit the bounding box hierarchy and geometric data to the client system, the geometric data corresponding to components of the product data structure associated with the requested component identifiers, wherein the client system determines, based on the spatial bounding box hierarchy, the components of the assembly represented by the product data structure that are visible, and wherein the client system can use the transmitted geometry to display the components of an assembly represented by the product data structure that are visible from the given viewpoint, including at least one of the plurality of unconfigured components. 
 
     
     
       18. The computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the client system determines the components of the assembly represented by the product data structure and the spatial bounding box hierarchy. 
     
     
       19. The computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the PDM server system dynamically configures the unconfigured components, and transmits the geometric data according to the dynamic configuration. 
     
     
       20. The computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the instructions cause the PDM server system to receive a search cursor that contains a plurality of root nodes of visible sub-assemblies represented by the product data structure, and wherein requested component identifiers sent to the client system correspond to components of an assembly represented by the product data structure that are visible and that correspond to the search cursor. 
     
     
       21. The computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the instructions cause the PDM server system to identify components of sub-assemblies that correspond to the search cursor by determining component occurrences that are in a respective cell of the cell table. 
     
     
       22. The computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the instructions cause the PDM server system to receive at least one slice definition that defines a display attribute for a subset of the components in the product data structure. 
     
     
       23. The computer-readable medium of  claim 22 , wherein the instructions cause the PDM server system to each of the components of an assembly represented by the product data structure, that are visible from a given viewpoint, against the slice definition. 
     
     
       24. The computer-readable medium of  claim 23 , wherein the instructions cause the PDM server system to display the components of the assembly represented by the product data structure that are visible from the given viewpoint according to the evaluated slice definition.